Seimas transposes EU directive without listing partners as family

BNS EN

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Lithuania's parliament on Tuesday transposed a European directive on non-discrimination of European Union (EU) citizens and their family members on grounds of their citizenship, however, partners were left aside.

The amendments to the Law on Equal Opportunities now envisage a ban on discrimination of EU citizens exercising the right of free movement on grounds of their citizenship, however, the law only lists spouses and children under the age of 21 as their family members.

The changes were supported by 63 of Lithuania's parliamentarians, four were against and 11 abstained.

The initial bill proposed by the Social Security and Labor Ministry also listed partners as family members of EU countries, however, the parliament opposed the wording.

Under the directive, citizens of EU member-states and countries of the European economic area and their family members must enjoy the same conditions of enjoying social and tax benefits as citizens of Lithuania.